Honda Indy Toronto 2011!!! Fun fact; this is the first Indy I’ve ever been to, I’m more of a tech guy than a sports guy and have never really found these types of events to be all that exciting. To me, it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, things are however, different if I have money on the outcome, but that doesn’t happen often.

But watching the Indy from the Bud Winner’s Circle is something truly special. Now, I don’t even have to watch the sport. I can just drink beer, play sports (which is fun, watching is not), and hang with hot girls. What is there now to love. oh, and the beer is free. Unfortunately the girls are not.

A week or so ago I get an email asking if I want to come to an exclusive blogger event with not a lot of details, I checked my calendar and had nothing so I said sure. A few days after that I got an email that said it was for the the HP TouchPad and I got excited! I’ve been dying to play with a WebOS tablet for a long time. I was thinking kewl, I get to play with it, see how it feels, and see how WebOS behaves on a much larger screen.

The event was at the always wonderful Marben Restaurant on Wellington in Toronto. I got there and headed downstairs.

Get downstairs and am greeted by the lovely ladies from Hill and Knowlton; Courtney and Rachel. Get my name tag and chat for a bit (cuz they’re wonderful ladies), then head on in.

The food at Marben is just fantastic. These little burger quarters are so unbelievable that I had to ask about them, they’re braised beer ribs wrapped in ground beef. All the food was amazing but these really stood out.

After a grabbed a quick bite and a beer, I found someone showing off the TouchPad, as I really wanted to see it in action pulled him over and finally got some hands on time.

I had to end my demo short as the event was getting started and I needed to take my seat.

Then they dropped the bomb, everyone gets a TouchPad!!! I was seriously shocked and super excited.

I tweeted “#TouchpadTO pulls an Oprah, everyone gets a touchpad!” and my phone blew up with replies. This is a hot commodity in Toronto.

We unboxed them and started booting them up, we were told we needed them setup and activated for some of the events later in the evening. Here’s mine turning on.

Created a WebOS account and it’s setting itself up and rebooting. Time for a few more mini burgers and some beer.

Sorry about this photo Erin, I’ll just assume you were thinking about kissing the TouchPad.

After we all got the TouchPads unboxed setup and running they did a quick demo so we all had an idea on how to use it. Which is good cuz boy did we need it for the next part of the night.

Up came Marty and Kirk from Brass Facts who run a super kewl trivia night at Brass Facts at The Ossington. This was by far the best and most brilliant way to get people to engage with the new device of any event I’ve ever been to. Kirk and Marty had a series of very difficult trivia questions and we had to use the TouchPad to do research to come up with the answer. First prize was a $100 gift certificate to Marben Restaurant. This was so much fun and I used the TouchPad constantly during the entire contest.

One of the awesome things I discovered about the TouchPad during this quiz was it runs flash!! Yes, flash! The questions was “On the website for the company who’s slogan is ‘Impossible Is Nothing’ there is a pop star, name her husband”.

The company was Adidas and of their website is in flash. (So it doesn’t drive you crazy, it’s Katy Perry and the answer is Russell Brand, you’re welcome).

You can see the answer sheets on the table. I came in 3rd, argh so close.

I’d been pawing at it, it’s now all finger printy. You can see my quiz sheet open on the table.

Wow, what an incredible night. Thanks to everyone at HP, Hill and Knowlton and Brass Facts you guys really blew my socks off.

I used the TouchPad for most of the night when I got home and a bunch today. I’ll do another post about the device and my impressions a bit later when I really have it as part of my life. Looking forward to trying the WordPress App!

Grimbergen Dubbel is a new beer that Carlsberg is bringing to Canada. It’s currently available in 12 countries and I’m so glad it’s coming here. Most dark beers tend to have a very bitter, almost metallic taste, that takes a few sips to get used to. Not Grimbergen, this medium dark dubbel is sweet and light with flavours of caramel. However great the beer is on it’s own, it has a truly legendary history.

The Grimbergen Abbey was founded in 1128 as a Premonstratensian monastery – a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Norbert. The abbey was ravaged by fire in 1142; in 1566 it was destroyed during the Religious wars; and in 1798 it was demolished yet again. The abbey was miraculously rebuilt after each wave of destruction. Fittingly, the Fathers of Grimbergen adopted the phoenix as their emblem, symbolizing the perpetual rebirth of their abbey. Their motto is, “Burned but never destroyed.”

Grimbergen beer was first brewed at the Abbey in 1128, and despite a tumultuous history, the Fathers have protected their recipes throughout the centuries. Today, Grimbergen Dubbel is a lively and inimitable brew that honours its phoenix symbol through a wealth of flavours born anew with every sip. Grimbergen Dubbel has a very rich, bittersweet flavour with hints of caramel, thanks to the mixing of several malts and a double fermentation process. Burgundy in colour, it has an alcohol content of 6.5 percent by volume and is approved by the Union of Belgian Breweries (UBB). It is certified as an official Belgian abbey beer.

Michael Nus with Fathers Erik de Sutter and Karel Stautemas, who came all the way from Belgium to share their incredible beer.

Nick Relph the Director of Marketing for Carlsberg Canada.

I urge you to try this beer. Yes, because it’s historic, yes, because it’s beer but Yes, becase it really is a great beer. I know I’ll be asking for at fine establishments in March. Also the 6.5% alcohol packs and awesome punch with great flavour.

Saturday was the Toronto Cavalcade of Lights. They turn on the lights on the big Christmas tree and skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square, some bands perform, and then there’s fireworks! This is apparently something they typically do every night for a week from what I understand but this year, do to renovations in the square, they’re only doing it one night.

This is my first year ever doing this, so really I didn’t know what to expect except being outside for a few hours in the cold. Cold weather Chris, check.

Debbie Travis was there in full effect, signing autographs and taking photos. How could I pass this up.

Oh that’s right! Debbie Travis with Krista and I.

The huge outdoor public rink at Nathan Phillips before the lights got turned on. Look at all the people wizzing by.

I though this shot was kind of interesting. Static me in the foreground blurry motion in the back.

The stage, where all the Canadian music “superstars” would be performing. Headliner, Sean Desmond. We went inside Eaton’s Centre for that.

Kickin’ in cold school.

Not a bad night. I can finally say I’ve now been to the lighting of the tree at Nathan Phillips square and I got to meet Debbie Travis. But man, it was crazy busy down there and the renovations really caused a lot of bottlenecks going in and coming out of the crowd.

Hello my friends, I’d like to welcome you back to a time where unfettered hair growth was a sign of sexual virility. Where the best moustache and attitude ensured you scored the hottest babe. I’d like to welcome back to the 1970’s which was taking place at the Movember Toronto Gala at the Kool Haus.

The distinguished Judge for “LameMo” and all around amazing Movember leader for Toronto Sean Moffitt (@seanmoffitt). He’s dressed as a cycle cop, but it really looks like at any minute he’s going rip off his pants and start dancing. Either that or he’s the cop that just pulled you over in an adult movie ;).

Have you heard of the Coke Zero Fans first initiative? Maybe you have, maybe you’ve heard about parts of it. Last night I got to experience a great moment when regular people got surprised with a night of their life.

What they did was select a random random mens league hockey game at the Master Card Centre (Leaf official practice arena). Sneak into the dressing room before anyone arrived and fill it with new jersey’s a leaf’s jersey and a coke jersey, coke and tons of other stuff.

When the guys arrived they were totally stunned and confused as to what was going on. It was pretty awesome. Then all of a sudden Komisarek, Versteeg & Armstrong walked in and surprised the crap out of them.

Then a Coke representative dropped all the details. All the guys are going to compete in a skills challenge with the leaf’s for a chance to win the opportunity to be “A Leaf for the day”.

On September 21, 2010 the winner will spend the day as a Leaf, goto press conferences, eat meals and play in an exhibition game against the Senators. From what I understand you can’t buy tickets for this game you can only win them! I might have a couple to give away, so you had better watch out!

Are you sure you don’t want a Coke Zero?

Hanging out in the dressing room before the cat was let out of the bag.

Here is a whole bunch of what I think we were referred to as the “New Media” crew. (re: the nerds who are always on their phones and do stuff with the internet). There was also barely a cell signal in there, which made tweeting and txt’ing near impossible.

Here’s another one of me.

Thanks to everyone there who let me take part in such a kewl an memorable night! #CokeZeroFansFirst

Last night was the Gladstone Hotel’s first tweet up and it was a really good one. I do have to give credit where credit is due and thank Jeremy at the Gladstone for hosting the event (@TweetgasmTO) and the awesome crew that put it together Casie Stewart (@cassiestewart), Michael Nus (@MichaelNus), Mark Pavlidis (@mhp), and Rannie Turingan (@photojunkie). Each and everyone of them are amazing and if you don’t already, you should get to know them.

Waiting for the Queen Street car to take us out West. Thinking about how long the damn street car is taking to come. Also, thinking about Ardene and how great I make it look by being in front of it.

The always great Casie Stewart and Loren (I think, msg me and I can fix it 🙂 )